Monthly Archives: October 2009

Generally you can tweak the blazes out of your operating system; you just need to know where to go within the system to do so.

Maintaining an operating system to get that last ounce of performance is reasonably easy, but again – you need to know where to go within the system to do so.

But that’s the rub – you need to know where to go. This may be easy for a competent techie; but definitely not easy for a typical user.

In most cases, an average user does not have the skill set required to drill down through complex structures to get that “just so” look, feel, and performance from an operating system.

Not surprisingly, most typical users that I meet, run computers that under perform in virtually all areas. They could get so much more out of their system, ifthey only knew how.

Tweaking utility developers, along with system tool developers have long recognized that typical users need help in tweaking and maintaining their computers. As a consequence, the Internet is awash in both commercial and “free” applications that help users meet these challenges.

Regular readers here, are accustomed to reading software reviews that are based primarily on free, or open source applications, and occasionally a commercial application which may not have a competitor in the freeware marketplace. And that brings me to TuneUp Utilities 2010.

TuneUp Utilities 2010 is one of the very few commercial applications that I have, or would recommend. Despite the fact that I’m a huge fan of free software, there are times when only a commercial application will meet all of my needs in one interface.

System maintenance for maximum performance is a critical issue for me, (and it should be for you), and I simply don’t have the time to launch 6/7 freeware applications to do so. Don’t get me wrong, free applications are terrific, but every one I’ve ever tested has limitations of one type or another.

Here’s an example where a freeware application, of this type, would have fallen short – on my Win 7 machine, TuneUp Utilities pointed out 5 critical security issues I had overlooked. It embarrasses me to disclose that, but I’m still in the process of tuning my Win 7 machine. No excuse really, not when it comes to security, but…..

I’ve been using TuneUp Utilities since 2003, and I’ve come to rely on it to help me get the very best out of all my machines. Take a free test run on TuneUp Utilities 2010 for 30 days, and see if you don’t agree that this is one commercial application that offers excellent value.

Fast facts:

Start Center

* Maintain system

* Increase performance

* Fix problems

* Customize Windows

* Launch Turbo Mode

* Configure Live Optimization

TuneUp Gadget

* Displays your PC’s health directly on the Desktop

* Gives you direct access to key functions

* Runs under Windows Vista and Windows

1-Click Maintenance and Automatic Maintenance

* Fixes PC problems automatically with one click

* Improves the performance of programs and games

* Turns off unnecessary programs

* Reduces the time you spend maintaining your computer

* Cleans up your PC automatically in the background

Optimize system startup and shutdown

* Allows for a quicker startup and shut down of Windows

* Disable Windows services that make your computer slow

* Optimizes system and program settings

* Reduces the number of autostart programs that drain resources

Defragment hard disks

* Reduces program loading time

* Accelerates file opening and copying

* Lets programs and games run more smoothly

Defragment registry

* Repairs structural defects

* Reduces the size of the registry

* Improves overall system performance

Clean registry

* Reduces errors in Windows and programs

* Lists existing problems in detail

* Cleans the registry with only a few clicks

Turbo Mode

* Concentrates the entire performance of the PC on active programs

* Turns off unnecessary or processes specified by the user

* Provides a smoother working or gaming experience

Configure Live Optimization

* Manages resources efficiently

* Improves program response speed

* Accelerates program startup times

Configure system startup

* Shortens system startup

* Turns off startup programs

* Provides easy and clear explanations and recommendations

Display and uninstall programs

* Displays a list containing all installed programs

* Helps to search for programs no longer used

* Performs easy and clean uninstalls

Fix typical problems

* Recognizes and fixes the most frequent Windows problems

* Restores Desktop icons

* Fixes display errors

Restore deleted data

* Restores deleted files

* Finds deleted data with just a few clicks

* Also works with USB sticks and memory cards

Check hard drive for errors

* Finds errors on your hard disk

* Proposes actions to fix the errors

* Provides more security for your data

Manage running programs

* Precisely shows the processor capacity and memory utilization

* Provides complete control of the active programs

* Improves program management

Personalize Windows appearance

* Offers more design possibilities for windows and buttons

* Customizes the startup and log-on screens (XP™ and Vista™)

* Provides free download material for styles

Change Windows settings

* Neatly displays 400 different Windows settings

* Explains each setting clearly and understandably

* Reliably performs complicated optimization steps

I could go on here since there are additional important features that are included in this application but, I think you get the point. This program is overwhelmingly inclusive, and provides virtually every tool and applet, that a computer user is ever likely to need.

Is it worth $49.95 US for a 3 machine (many of us have more than one computer), license? In my view the answer is a definite – yes. TuneUp Utilities 2010 is simply the best application of its type that I have ever used.

Windows 7 vs. Ubuntu 9.10 – Strengths and weaknesses – I’ve been thinking quite a bit about the differences between Microsoft’s latest Windows 7 and Canonical’s Ubuntu 9.10. Specifically, I’ve been thinking about the strengths and weaknesses of each of the operating systems.

Kill a Zombie Day promotes PC security – Celebrate Halloween 2009 by joining the fight against spam and malware. Rather than dressing up as a zombie for Halloween on 31 October, why not destroy one instead?

How to set up an Apple iPod Nano – The Apple iPod Nano can be used to rent movies, play games, track your fitness, and even record video. It’s impressive, but for first time users, it can also be intimidating. So for the thousands of you out there who’ve purchased or received their first iPod Nano, I’m going to help you though the process of setting it up and syncing it with media from your computer.

The Virtues of Virtualization – Virtualization lets you create virtual systems within one PC. It’s extremely useful for testing applications and operating systems. Ask Neil Rubenking, who often uses this platform to test security suites. Or, better yet, ask Jim Lynch who seems particularly passionate about the practice as it applies to Linux distro testing.

The Future of Video Game Input: Muscle Sensors – Motion control and multi-touch have become common in devices ranging from Nintendo’s Wii to Apple’s iPhone. But a muscle-sensing system could someday allow gamers to play air “Guitar Hero” without a controller, or help harried parents with full hands open car doors.

I have to admit I love Windows 7, and I’m not going to complain about this, or that, perceived shortcoming. What’s not to like?

I can’t believe some of the nonsense complaints I’ve read in the last few months, written, I’m convinced, by writers who get paid by the word! Actually, I find the “glass half empty” approach of this type of tech writer, more amusing, than frustrating.

After reading one of these “tech ex-spurts” I generally console myself with the thought – “man, I’m so glad you’re not my neighbor”, since negativity, just like the swine flu, is contagious.

Frankly, I have not tested an operating system in the years that I have been computing, which incidentally goes all the way back to DOS 1, where the advantages of the system were so readily apparent.

If, or when, you consider making the move to Windows 7, it’s important that you ensure your current system meets the hardware requirements imposed by Win 7. If you are currently running on Windows Vista, it’s almost a given that you can run on Windows 7, but ……

To help you determine your system compatibility, Microsoft has released a Beta version of a neat little tool to help you establish if your computer can handle the requirements of Windows 7.

According to Microsoft, “Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor scans your PC’s system, programs and devices to check if it’s able to run Windows 7. After a few minutes, the report will let you know if your PC meets the system requirements, if there are any known compatibility issues with your programs and devices, and will also provide guidance on your upgrade options to Windows 7”.

The following graphics illustrate just how easy this compatibility test is.

Note: The advisor recommends that you connect ALL your devices before running the test.

Courtesy of Panda Security – This week’s PandaLabs report looks at a worm, a Trojan and two new fake antiviruses.

The two fake antiviruses are General Antivirus:

and Win Enterprise Defender:

Both are rogueware programs that scan the hard disk and mark normal non-infected files in different folders as malware. They ask the user to purchase a license (of a fake antivirus), at a very attractive price to resolve this issue.

Unaware users (even those who have an antivirus), on seeing that these rogueware programs detect more alleged malware, could be tempted into purchasing.

Users can purchase the fake antivirus’ with Visa or MasterCard. Additionally, they are asked for their credit card details which may then be used fraudulently.

Removal help for these nasties is further on in this article.

SpyAutorun.A is a worm with keylogger features which is able to steal users’ confidential data. All the information is collected in a text file which is sent to hackers’ email addresses.

Gymizi.A is a Trojan that displays annoying messages and restarts the infected computer. As soon as it infects a user and on opening the browser, it displays a small animation of a progress bar and inserts a message in the browser’s title bar.

Every so often it displays an error pop-up with the message “fuck musang berapi!!!” and restarts the computer. Once the system is restarted, it displays a screen with offensive texts. It also alters the registry to ensure it is run on every system startup.

If you have become infected by General Antivirus, WinEnterpriseDefender, or other scareware (rogue software), have your PC worked on by a certified computer technician, who will have the tools, and the competency, to determine if the infection can be removed without causing system damage. Computer technicians do not provide services at no cost, so be prepared for the costs involved.

If you feel you have the necessary skills, and you want to try your hand at removal, then by all means do so.

The following free resources can provide tools and the advice you will need to attempt removal.

Malwarebytes, a very reliable anti-malware company, offers a free version of Malwarebytes’ Anti-Malware, a highly rated anti-malware application which is capable of removing many newer rogue applications.

411 Spyware – a site that specializes in malware removal. I highly recommend this site.

Bleeping Computer – a web site where help is available for many computer related problems, including the removal of rogue software. This is another site I highly recommend.

SmitFraudFix, available for download at Geekstogo is a free tool that is continuously updated to assist victims of rogue security applications.

What you can do to reduce the chances of infecting your system with rogue software.

Be careful in downloading freeware or shareware programs. Spyware is occasionally concealed in these programs. Download this type of program only through reputable web sites such as Download.com, or sites that you know to be safe.

As part of our recent “backup your data, crusade”, we have arranged with Novosoft, the developers of the award-winning backup application Handy Backup, to give away 2 licenses (retail value $99), for the Professional home version of their award-winning backup software.

To enter the contest, simply add a comment at the end of this article. On November 16, 2009, all comments will be added to the online List Randomizer, and the first 2 names that come up, will win a free license for this terrific backup application.

After reading the following review of Handy Backup, which has been referred to as the “Swiss Army Knife of backups”, I’m sure you’ll agree, this is a contest worth entering.

You don’t need to write a paragraph – “enter me in the contest”, or similar, is enough. Good luck!

Handy Backup Review.

Your computer setup is a reflection of you. Sure, everyone has their documents folder, their pictures folder, their office applications – but that’s where most similarities end. Think about it, your Photoshop settings, IM tweaks, browser preferences… everything is set up just the way you like it.

Most backup software treats your data like big, faceless chunks of memory. They perform brute backups of your hard drive without regard to the fact that you did, really, truly, have things just the way you liked them!

Handy Backup includes plug-ins for all of the popular programs (such as Outlook and Windows Mail), and if you don’t see what you need, you can actually create your own plug-in (as an XML specification) for that special app.

Out of the box, Handy Backup is ready to go to work safeguarding your data, documents, photos, browser bookmarks, and email messages – either in a run-once situation, or as scheduled event. Your options include the ability to backup to local media, such as a CD, or to offsite storage on a secure FTP site.

As if backing up to local media, local servers, and offsite locations weren’t enough, all users of Handy Backup can also take advantage of the Novosoft Remote Backup Service. Think of it as super-duper-remote-always-on backup, with unlimited storage in a highly secure web server that’s fortified against technological and natural disasters, available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

Stay tuned – in the next few weeks we will be reviewing the enterprise version of this application – Handy Backup Server. At that time, a free license (retail value $599), will be offered in a similar contest give away.

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Lifehacker: Ubuntu 9.10 Karmic Koala Out Now – The final version of Ubuntu 9.10 has hit Ubuntu’s servers a little bit ahead of its front page. Grab a torrent or ISO of the free Linux operating system while the servers aren’t slammed.

Off Topic:

101 FREE Tools to Design Your Own Degree – These open courses are free for everyone, and while they might not replace the courses you have to take, they might get you one step closer to your final diploma. We’ve also included free networking sites and financial aid resources that can help you make the connections and the financial decisions you need to reach your academic goals.

Today’s Quote:

Today’s Free Downloads:

Halloween Adventure Screensaver – This freebie presents five beautifully animated scenes–a haunted castle, a spooky forest, a moody Halloween sky, a giant spiderweb, and more–all carefully rendered. The colors are rich and the animations are smooth. In the background, witches cackle, chains rattle, owls hoot, wolves howl, and ghosts moan. The sound effects are subtle and well-placed, not overdone.

Welcome To Halloween Screensaver – If you’re looking for something to decorate your desktop for the kiddies this Halloween, download this free screen saver. Welcome to Halloween displays brightly colored animated cartoons depicting skeletons, wizards, silly ghosts, and various ghouls as they perform in a band, relax in the local tavern, or just stroll through town. Charming–and ever so slightly spooky–xylophone music plays in the background. Highly recommended!

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In the roughly 22 months I have been writing Tech Thoughts, these are the top 12 downloaded free applications on this site. Having had the opportunity to test each and every one thoroughly, I have no hesitation in recommending these top performing free applications.

Malwarebytes’ Anti-Malware: (45,693 downloads) – When a free application is downloaded over 45,000 times from your site, like Malwarebytes’ Anti-Malware has been at my site, you just have to know this application is a winner. The free version of this speed demon (it’s faster at scanning than any anti-malware program I’ve tested in the last 2 years), is used by millions of people worldwide to protect their computers.

Regseeker: (13,974 downloads) – The longer you use Windows, the more cluttered your registry can become, especially if you regularly install and uninstall software. Many applications, on being uninstalled, leave behind “orphan” registry entries. They don’t remove all traces of themselves; causing problems such as sluggish performance, system lockups, or a bloated registry that takes longer to load on startup. With the click of a button, Regseeker will scan your registry for these fragmented files, and safely remove them.

Ccleaner: (9,689 downloads) – Ccleaner is a freeware system optimization, privacy, and cleaning tool. It removes unused files from your system – allowing Windows to run faster and freeing up valuable hard disk space. It also cleans traces of your online activities such as your Internet history. Additionally, it contains a fully featured registry cleaner. But the best part is that it’s fast; normally taking less than a second to run.

Spyware Terminator: (7,439 downloads) – Having tested virtually all of the major anti-spyware applications over the past year or more, I’ve settled, for now, on Spyware Terminator primarily due to its strong real-time protection against spyware, adware, Trojans, key-loggers, home page hijackers and other malware threats. Spyware Terminator excels in strong active protection against know and unknown threats. If anything, I find it perhaps a little overly aggressive. On the other hand, better this than the alternative.

Revo Uninstaller: (6,726 downloads) – Revo Uninstaller is a superior program designed to uninstall programs from your computer. This free program with its advanced and fast algorithm scans before, and after you uninstall an application. After the program’s regular uninstaller runs, you can remove additional unnecessary files, folders and registry keys that are usually left over on your computer.

ThreatFire: (3,780 downloads) – A powerful free tool, ThreatFire from PC Tools, the developers of the highly regarded Spyware Doctor, blocks malware (including zero-day threats) by analyzing program behavior (heuristics), based on the theory that if it looks like a crook and acts like a crook, then it must be a crook, instead of relying only on a signature based database. ThreatFire works together with your signature based security applications to increase the effectiveness of your total security arsenal.

A-squared-HiJackFree: (3,533 downloads) – The program operates as a detailed system analysis tool that can help you in the detection and removal of Hijackers, Spyware, Adware, Trojans, Worms, and other malware. It doesn’t offer live protection but instead, it examines your system, determines if it’s been infected, and then allows you to wipe out the malware.

CD-Recovery Toolbox: (3,486 downloads) – CD Recovery Toolbox, a free CD/DVD file recovery solution that can help you recover damaged data that you may have considered unrecoverable.

Disk Heal: (3,363 downloads) – Disk Heal is a free Windows NT, 2000, XP and Vista utility that may be able to restore the condition of your Hard Drive, or a USB Flash Drive, after it has been being infected by a virus. This application is a very useful tool that has a host of additional capabilities, including recovering hidden files and performing system tweaks; all can be accessed with just one click.

Auslogics Disk Defrag: (3,229 downloads) – I defrag with Auslogics Disk Defrag a free disk defragger from Auslogics Software regularly. The program is extremely easy to use, does not require any analysis phase and is faster than most disk defragmentation software I’ve tested in the past, and best of all, it’s free.

TrueCrypt: (2,945 downloads) – TrueCrypt is an outstanding free open source software system, (one I have using for the last several years) for establishing and maintaining an on-the-fly-encrypted volume. On-the-fly encryption simply means that data are automatically encrypted or decrypted just before they are loaded or saved, without any user intervention. No data stored on an encrypted volume can be read (decrypted) without using the correct password/correct encryption keys.

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